If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

A Whipett or Greyhound in an apartment

I'm not sure what these two dogs are but they have the body type of runners. I live in an apartment complex and I know that Cavaliers need exercise but I feel that they can be apartment dogs. I have found that the roof is open and Elton loves running after the ball up there so he get some off leash activity and plenty of walks.

I feel if I bought a puppy from a good breeder they would want to know these things and when I got Ella, I had to explain how I would give her the exercise she needed (I was scared I wouldn't pass the test). Anyway, I see these two dogs being walked when I walk Elton and they look like they just need to run. I can't imagine that being the lifestyle for these types of dogs. I feel so sorry for them. They live in another apartment but I live close to downtown. There are no off leash dog parks for miles. There is one park but you have to leash your dogs. How could they live in apartments? Am I just missing something and they don't need to run that much?

I have visited the Greyhound rescue groups at various dog events and talked to the people there who place retired Race dogs. They said apartments are fine for Greyhounds. If I had one, I would like to give them a chance to run off-leash though. I'm not an expert, but just conveying what the Greyhound Rescue people told me. I've considered saving a retired race dog, but their need to run is what concerned me too.

I know several retired greyhounds and they are pretty lazy! Racing greyhounds actually only run when they're racing or being trained - like racehorses. For the rest of the time they live in kennels and go for slow road exercise, as it's this - not running free - that builds up muscle and fitness. So although they enjoy running free in the park when they can, it's usually just having a game with a dog friend, not tearing around on their own because they desperately need to run. And they certainly don't seem to be the dogs for long country walks. So the Greyhound Rescue is right - they are pretty good dogs for flats/apartments - as long as your rooms are big enough to accommodate a large dog sprawled on the carpet or settee without tripping over it all the time!

They do enjoy a good run though, the rescues generally recommend 20-30 mins off lead twice daily, but they will then sleep the rest of the day They actually take up less rooom than you would expect as they curl up like a cat.

One important thing though is that they do have a very high prey drive and you need to be careful around cats, small furries and even small breeds of dog.

Whippets look a lot like little greyhounds right?? There's a Great Dane in my neighborhood (its townhouses, but some are huge inside but we all have small yards) I see them walking everyday, sometimes the guy is rollerblading I guess that helps. My son and I went horseback riding this week and the lady on the farm had 4 Yorkie's running around the barn, I thought that was weird. A Yorkie as a barn dog???? To each their own I guess.

The Yorkshire Terrier was developed in the 19th century in the county of Yorkshire, England to catch rats in clothing mills. So hopefully these are doing what they were supposed to be doing

They do have the true terrier temperament, and can be very feisty.

On an amusing note, I did know an elderly couple wtih Yorkie brothers years ago, called Willy and Winky - very unfortunate!

You couldn't get near the dogs as they were so yappy and snarly [having been picked up to save them from the dangerous world of people and dogs - and not socialised at all. ]

Yes Whippets do resemble Greyhounds, if you do a search you can find photos of the different breeds. Great Danes are a very different beast! Much larger and stockier build. I would it quite dangerous to exercise a dog whilst on rollerblades - that is a very strong dog

The Yorkshire Terrier was developed in the 19th century in the county of Yorkshire, England to catch rats in clothing mills. So hopefully these are doing what they were supposed to be doing

They do have the true terrier temperament, and can be very feisty.

On an amusing note, I did know an elderly couple wtih Yorkie brothers years ago, called Willy and Winky - very unfortunate!

You couldn't get near the dogs as they were so yappy and snarly [having been picked up to save them from the dangerous world of people and dogs - and not socialised at all. ]

Yes Whippets do resemble Greyhounds, if you do a search you can find photos of the different breeds. Great Danes are a very different beast! Much larger and stockier build. I would it quite dangerous to exercise a dog whilst on rollerblades - that is a very strong dog

I know everytime I see that guy rollerblading with the Great Dane a little part of me is watching for the dog to take him haaaaaa he's a young fit guy he could take it lol

I just thought the Yorkies at the barn were weird, a few barn cats maybe a bigger dog I would think. I would have thought Yorkies and horses wouldn't mix but.......